Posted on 10/31/2011 2:50:03 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The question followed hard on the heels of the original Politico story and harder on the heels of Herman Cain’s dismissal of years-old allegations that he behaved inappropriately toward two women: Who leaked the information in the first place?
Cain’s campaign manager says he has “no clue,” according to a report by The Daily Caller’s Alex Pappas.
“I have no idea,” chief of staff Mark Block told The Daily Caller. “No clue. I would find it hard to believe that anybody from another campaign would do that, but then again this is politics. Isn’t it?”
Guy Benson explains why it’s really not so hard to believe:
Cain’s been giving plenty of Republican campaign operatives heartburn these days, so the list of possible suspects is long. Did I mention … Cain now leads Rick Perry … in Texas? (To be clear, I am not remotely implying that Team Perry planted this story. I’m simply illustrating that Cain has proven to be a lasting threat in the primary field.)
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has said he could “almost guarantee” GOP campaigns started this ball in motion. On Geraldo at Large last night, Juan Williams made the same point. But Ann Coulter vehemently disagreed, pointing out that, when conservatives dredge up allegations of sexual misconduct, they’ve usually done their homework and the allegations prove to be true. Two names come to mind: Bill Clinton and John Edwards. On the other hand, “there’s a long history of false accusations on the left.” Coulter pointed out the left-leaning slant of Politico and implied left-leaning sources likely leaked the story.
But whether it was planted by GOP rivals or represents a preemptive attack by Obama’s posse won’t really change what effect — if any — the story has on Cain’s campaign. Some have already begun to speculate the story will help Cain, as it will inspire some to rally around him. Herman Cain’s Iowa Chairman, for example, said the salacious “news” will just motivate Cain volunteers in Iowa to work harder.
Still, it’s worth asking the question of who tipped off Politico because the answer to that question might affect how the electorate views the camp that leaked it.
It’s not hard to believe at all. For example, we know of one “Republican” candidate who seems to have no difficulty at all with smearing his opposition.
There’s no need for the left to smear Cain with this much time remaining before the primaries. They would hold their fire.
Politics is one mean business. It is cut-throat beyond belief. I remember when Palin announced that she wasn’t going to run (essentially as a family decision). Can you imagine the cruelty that would have been shown to her? The lies they made up about every one of her family members? I guess if you throw you hat in you have to become very thick skinned and prepare for every type of assault possible.
I can't honestly see how anyone would be afraid of our current front-runners. That being said, we still might win with one of these people.
In terms of who leaked this story, almost a certainty it was a rival Republican campaign (at this juncture). But, that's to be expected in politics.
Herman Cain and his campaign had to anticipate this story would surface sooner or later. Perhaps a glimpse at what type of leader he would be is in how he handles this.
Cain is a threat to the left to its core.
Before I join the circular firing squad, I’ll have to see proof it wasn’t a lib.
I hope this didn’t come from Perry’s camp, but it doesn’t matter. This kind of garbage is going to come out in a political campaign, and it might as well come out now. I bet Perry and Romney have some bimbo eruptions waiting to be exposed, as Obama had his little gay episode, and Gore had his biker chick. ...I would think a lot of business executives from large corporations have experienced frivolous sexual harassment charges. They are targets of opportunity from unscrupulous employees.
The leak had to come from a past DC insider, like Rove.
The Rats would not release it before primaries determine who is going to represent the GOP. The rats would hold on to this info and release it like GW’s drunken driving charge, or Mark Foley, right before the election.
Yeppers, this came from someone, or some DC hacks to stop Cain’s Big Mo in the GOP primaries.
That’s why I think Rove is the digger of dirt on this.
Who he passed it on to is anybodies guess.
“That’s why I think Rove is the digger of dirt on this.
Who he passed it on to is anybodies guess.”
No, Rove is on the Mitt team.
I have no doubt some of them are low enough to do it.
How close is Joseph Allbaugh to Karl Rove?
So, who told Rove?
I wish I knew. Do u think it came from the GOP side to stop Cain’s Big Mo in the primaries or from the RAT side?
I have no idea. I’m not on the inside loop. We’ll have to wait to see.
I too think it stinks of Rove, even Romney too.
Rush seems to think the RATS did it. The RATS like to keep their powder dry until right before the general election.
Remember how a RAT released the drunken drive charge against Bush a couple of days before the general election?
Remember how the RATS released the Mark Foley page scandal a few weeks from the general election>
This leak was intended to stop Cain’s Big Mo during the GOP primary season, not the general election. For that reason, I repectfully disagree with Rush.
I couldn't disagree more! The Left has every reason to smear Cain right now -- to keep him from becoming the nominee. If Obama has any chance whatsoever to win reelection next year, it will be against a White non-Conservative Republican who fails to inspire the GOP base.
I believe the Left fears Herman Cain more than any other candidate, since he neutralizes the race card and is a bona fide, "Capital C" Conservative and a genuinely likable guy. Perry also frightens the Left in a one-on-one race against Obama, but a Romney candidacy is probably the only hope for a second Obama term.
Ann Coulter voiced my first impression. If Republicans were behind this, they'd make sure the accusation was true, whereas false smears are typical of the Left. Further, I believe that the Democrats are positively desperate to keep Herman Cain off the ticket against their half-Black Marxist failure of a president. Everything about Obama is fake, while Herman Cain is the real thing -- a real Conservative and a real Black man!
Politico would consider it double-duty if they took out Cain, AND took out another random republican through “recrimination attacks”.
Why is it hard to believe that Politico didn’t just do some basic journalism? It’s not hard to find legal settlements; Cain made a big deal out of being in charge of the association, and since he’s now a serious candidate, they are going to poke around and see what they can find.
Why would it require another republican campaign? Don’t get me wrong, I understand WHY another republican campaign, if they learned this, would want it out. But if a republican campaign could find the information, why couldn’t a news organization?
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